The Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, has blamed the persistent attack of herdsmen on hapless farmers in the country on the nation’s porous borders, stating that most of the violent herdsmen were not Nigerians.
Speaking with stakeholders on community policy in the Ondo State capital, Akure over the weekend, Arase said the violent herdsmen were mostly from Mali and Chad who lead their cattle over the borders, adding that the Nigerian herdsmen were peace-loving and law-abiding.
He said the farmers must be wary of these foreigners.
Also, Arase added that the foreigners could not be stopped because of existing international laws, especially the ECOWAS protocols, that encourage free movement of people within the various borders.
He said: “I have taken suggestions about how we can develop big ranches so that they can stop grazing on farmlands.
“We should also know about the history of migration. Most of these herdsmen are not Nigerians. They are people from Mali, Chad, who came into our system. So that is why we have to be careful. Our borders are porous. Predominantly, our own herdsmen are law abiding people.
“But when people come from outside with their cattle, we should not deny them entry because of ECOWAS protocols, good neighbourliness but at the same time we should not allow them to embark on criminal activities.”